Disclaimer - Don't own
Word Count - 6300! Even I'm in shock.
A/N - So I had this idea as I was watching GG on Monday - Can anybody saw Asshole? I mean seriously Jack, OTT! And Chuck got him on Megan's List. I'm still laughing my ass off! - And I decided to delete everything else I had and run with it. Sorry about the wait but seeing as this is twice my usual length I think I can be forgiven? Yes? No?
Anyways, you know the drill - R&R. And once again, muchos gracias to everyone who reviewed! I love you guys!
"Now who can tell me what exactly I mean by the phrase 'social elitism'?" Miss Reilly asked the class at large. "Nobody?" She sighed, "Really?" Needless to say her first day at this school was not going too well.
She looked around the room, taking note of where everyone was sitting; Blair Waldorf and her honor role companions were in the first few rows, Serena Van der Woodson was sitting in the corner with Dan Humphrey who appeared to be aching to put up his hand and tell her the answer but was hesitating for some reason. Chuck Bass was sitting in the back row with Nate Archibald beside him and his fellow rich friends around him. His eyes were glued to the back of Blair's head and every now and then she turned and gave him a glowing smile.
"Alright. I'll give you an example." Joan Reilly said finally. "Say Nickolas wanted to marry Kate, but Nickolas was a poor farmer and Kate was a rich merchant's daughter." A few people shot glances towards Dan and Serena but other then that remained disinterested. "Kate's parents found out about this and had Nickolas banished from their town, or even killed, and they married Kate off to a rich businessman." Joan Reilly pointed to a map. "Believe it or not. This happens in some countries all over the world."
Still no reaction.
"Miss Waldorf." Joan tried. "You are wealthy, correct?"
Blair raised her eyebrows and gave her the most condescending look she had ever seen. "Yes," She said benignly, "That is correct."
A few girls in the class tittered.
"Not any more." Joan told her brusquely. "You are now a poor washer-woman whose earnings are spent on buying alcohol for her drunkard father."
"Excuse me?" Blair's eyes flashed dangerously. "I think you have me confused with somebody else."
Joan looked her straight in the eye. "Actually I don't think that I do. Charles Bass." She called.
"Yes, Joan?" Chuck asked charmingly as his friends snickered.
"I would appreciate it if you called me Miss Reilly," She said sternly, before refocusing. "You are now the heir to a billion dollar oil company. Your father is a rich oil sheik."
"Is that supposed to impress me?" Chuck asked boredly, eying her with disdain.
"No Charles, it's not." Joan turned her back on them and sat down at her desk, she picked up a pen and twirled it idly around. "I just thought you'd like to know the reason that you are no longer allowed to see Miss Waldorf outside of classes."
"Wait... What?" Blair demanded, giving Chuck a 'WTF' look.
"Oh you don't understand?" Joan asked innocently. "You and Charles are now prohibited from spending any time together or seeing each other from outside an academic perspective. You are poor, he is rich. You have absolutely nothing in common anymore."
"You can't do that." Chuck said angrily.
"Alas Mr Bass, I have already cleared this little project with Headmistress Queller, she is calling your parents at this very moment. Providing they are on board with this project, and when they learn that it is worth forty percent of your overall grades this semester, I am sure that they will be."
"You make it sound as if I care about my grades." Chuck rolled his eyes.
"You may not," Joan shrugged, "But from what I've heard Miss Waldorf here does."
Blair's eyes narrowed and every eye in the class was glued to the scene.
"This is better then The Hills!" Iz whispered to Hazel.
"Totally." Hazel agreed, her eyes sparkling.
"And from these sources I am sure that you are aware that I am staying with the Bass' while my mother is away." Blair countered.
"Yes, I was actually." Joan said simply. "Now that you are all paying attention, I am sure you will all be happy to know that you will also be embarking with Mr Bass and Miss Waldorf on this little experiment." A chorus of complains and groans came from all of the students. "I will sort you into two groups, rich and poor. You will accept your group and I will not hear any complaints. Understand?" She received a few mumbles of assent and dark glares from her students as the bell rang. "A list will be posted before the end of the day." She called as everyone filed out of the room.
"Blair?" Serena tried, approaching her best friend who was fuming in silence.
"How dare she." Blair hissed quietly. "Nobody tells me I can and can't see."
"Please tell me you're not actually taking this seriously." Chuck scoffed, coming up behind them.
Blair met the eye of Miss Reilly as she was walking down the hallway, before turning and wrapping her arms around Chuck's neck and kissing him fiercely. When they broke apart a few long moments later she raised her eyebrow in challenge at the new teacher before putting her arm through Chuck's and leading him away. "Of course not. The only person who is allowed to mess with Blair and Chuck are Chuck and Blair!" She said furiously.
"Have I ever told you that you're hot when you're pissed off." Chuck told her huskily.
Her giggles echoed down the hallway.
"So what do you think?" Dan asked as Serena stared after them looking mildly disgusted.
"I think that Miss Reilly had better watch her back." Serena said nervously.
~*~*~*~*~
Van der Woodson, Serena – Underclassed citizen
Cranford, Chad – Upperclassed citizen
Coates, Isabelle– Underclassed citizen
Quinton, Penelope – Underclassed citizen
Peck, Gregory – Underclassed citizen
Archibald, Nathaniel – Upperclassed citizen
Connelly, Mischa – Underclassed citizen
Yuki, Nelly – Upperclassed citizen
Hart, Hazel – Upperclassed citizen
Humphrey, Daniel – Underclassed citizen
Waldorf, Blair – Underclassed citizen
Bass, Charles – Upperclassed citizen
Tiphani, Michael – Underclassed citizen
Zapata, Howard – Upperclassed citizen
~*~*~*~*~
"Mom you can't cancel my credit cards." Serena protested. "What if there's an emergency?"
"Serena I am just following instructions." Lily said tiredly. "Headmistress Queller told us specifically what to do."
"Well what she doesn't know won't hurt her." Serena coerced.
"Serena we promised." Lily said firmly. "Besides, I think this will be good for you."
"And hey, you're in the same social class as Dan now aren't you?" Eric pointed out. "You guys can still see each other."
"Sis I believe my drink is in need of replenishment," Chuck held the glass out to her smugly.
"Forget it." Serena shook her head fervently. "I don't what you're so happy about," She narrowed her eyes. "Blair's underclass, you guys can't see each other anymore."
"Please, like they are actually going to stick to that." Chuck eyed his father. "You're not, are you?"
"Actually Chuck, we are." Bart told him, a hint of apology in his voice. "Mrs Queller insists."
"So?" Chuck scowled. "How is she going to find out. Nobody will dare tell her."
"You have got to be kidding me," Blair said hollowly from the doorway, her eyes glued to her phone. "That moronic teacher set up a blog especially for the project. Anyone caught breaking the rules will be immediately broadcasted all over the internet."
"Mrs Queller also mentioned that." Bart nodded. "Apparently they got the idea from another site like it."
"I just bet they did." Blair said darkly. "Serena are you coming?"
"Yeah, let me just get my purse." Serena hurried off to her room.
"Where are you going?" Lily asked.
"Shopping," Blair told her. "The rules don't apply until tomorrow, and I am making as much use of my credit cards as possible."
Serena came back into the room with her purse in hand and ushered her friend out of the house. Everyone could clearly hear Blair muttering to herself as they walked down the hall. "Who does she think she is.... poor washer woman.... drunkard."
"Is anybody else not looking forward to the rest of the week?" Eric asked.
~*~*~*~*~
"Alright that's enough," Headmistress Queller called as she stepped up to the podium. "Silence!"
The entirety of the joint Senior Class who took AP Sociology promptly shut up.
"Now that we are all here," She gave Serena and Dan who had shown up late and slightly flustered, a pointed glare. "I will explain the exact direction and motivations required for the project in a second, but first I would like to discuss what I feel is the most important aspect of this experiment.
In just under three months all of you will graduate, and hopefully pursue a life in the college of your choice. Up to this point most of you have had little to no responsibilities other then having fun and showing up to school everyday. When you go to college all of that will change," Headmistress Queller eyed them all sternly. "You will be expected to get to classes on time and with all of the necessary assignments for that class, no exceptions and no leniency.
"You will have to preform not only academically but sociably, your future classmates will differ in both ethnic and fiscal backgrounds and you have to prepare yourselves to work both productively and efficiently with them. And, quite honestly, I don't think that any of you are up to the task." She shrugged. "The majority of you are judgmental, pushy, self-absorbed, and selfish, to say the least."
"Don't hold back, say what you really feel." Nate muttered and Chuck grinned.
"I believe that this project will teach you all about understanding and compassion and give you some moral fiber." Headmistress Queller finished. "Now let's get down to the logistics. For the Underclassed Citizens you will be required to give up all rights to cell-phones, personal media players, television, and credit cards. You will be instructed to complete tasks throughout the four days of this project, and you will do them." She said warningly. "Your parents or guardians each have a list of these tasks and will ensure their implementation."
"So glad I'm Upperclass." Hazel said smugly.
"Totally." Nelly Yuki agreed.
Blair gave them withering looks.
"As for you Upperclassmen, well, you pretty much have a free ride for the next few days. You have the power to tell your underlings what they can and cant do - within reason, and yes Mr Bass I am looking at you - if you ask them to do something they are obligated to do it. No ifs, buts, or maybes." She looked at each of them. "In short, they own you."
There was some whoops and some groans from the students and Blair was growing even more livid by the millisecond.
"And the final stipulation," Headmistress Queller raised her voice above the noise. "You are not allowed converse in a social context with anyone of the opposite working class. If you are caught doing so you will be immediately called on to explain your reasoning and excuses for doing so. To make sure that anyone is not cheating or abusing the system we will also have a legion of anonymous spies to keep and eye on you. Any questions?"
Silence.
"No? Good." She smiled as the bell rang signaling the end of classes for that day. "All of these changes are effective immediately. Good luck."
Day 1
"So this isn't so bad." Serena said cheerfully, giving Blair an encouraging look.
Blair rolled her eyes but didn't argue. "I suppose. And it's not like anyone can see what Chuck and I do when we're in private or here."
"Actually Blair," Eric winced, "They can."
Blair studied him, his posture was slumped and his eyes looked guilty and slightly apprehensive. "You were chosen to be a spy weren't you." She realized with a scowl.
Eric nodded, "Totally not by choice. It was more like do or die, for someone so small that new teacher sure can be scary."
"Okay," Blair said quickly, "We can work with this. You'll just walk into a different room whenever Chuck and I are together."
He winced again.
"She's making you follow Chuck at all times." Blair said angrily.
"Okay seriously! How do you do that?" Eric asked.
"You're easy to read E." Blair patted his head absently. "You can leave now."
"Thanks... I think."
"B?" Serena asked, when she had been quiet for a while. "Hello, earth to Blair?"
"Shh, I'm thinking." Blair paced the room deep in thought. "Hang on... Where's Chuck?" She demanded.
"I think he and Nate went to the park after school." Serena said as she fixed herself a glass of juice. "Why?"
"I'm just wondering how my boyfriend can go out and get high with my ex when I am at home, his home, trying to find a way that we can still see each other!" Blair said with a frustrated expression on her face.
"Uh oh." Serena groaned. "Blair I am begging you please don't say what I think you're about to say-"
"I think this could work." Blair smirked. "Chuck has been getting to complacent anyway, you know we've been together for almost a month now and he still hasn't told me he loved me?"
"I thought he said it at the dance?"
"Yeah in the heat of the moment when we were sparring. But since then it's like he's won the chase so he doesn't even need to bother anymore." Blair said quietly.
"I'm sure he wants to say it, he probably just feels awkward. You are his first real girlfriend after all." Serena consoled her.
"Yeah sure," Blair smiled brightly and fakely, "But hey, absence makes the heart grow fonder right? Let's see what four days without me can do." She felt a surge of pain in her heart as she repeated those words.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah totally!" Blair assured her. "So come on, you and Lonely Boy. I know you're dying to spill."
~*~*~*~*~
"Miss Blair you are doing it all wrong!" Brigitta said crossly, grabbing the iron out of Blair's hand and tutting as she inspected the big black burn in the powder blue silk shirt. "Look what you have done! This is ruined."
Blair just rolled her eyes, "Sorry Mr Bass, I promise I'll buy you a new one."
"No need Blair, I think that's Chuck shirt." He told her, attempting to conceal his smile.
Blair's eyes flashed and she grabbed the iron back out of the maids hands. "Well in that case..." She pressed the iron firmly back down on the shirt and smiled innocently at Brigitta. "You haven't happened to see his scarf lying around anywhere have you? I think it could do with a good once over." She turned up the heat and pressed down harder.
"Oh yeah you're totally cool with it." Serena giggled.
~*~*~*~*~
"Don't worry I've helped Dan cook loads of times, I'll be fine!" Serena laughed, ushering the French maid out of the kitchen. "Go!" She insisted. "Your daughter's plane should be arriving at the airport any minute now."
"If you're sure Miss Serena." Brigitta said worriedly, hanging up her apron and putting on her jacket.
"I am, now go." Serena smiled, as the maid finally left. "Okay spaghetti goes into the pot, check. Sauce into the saucepan, check. Okay, this isn't so bad." Serena talked to herself.
Twenty minutes later:
"Um, Serena honey, is the mince supposed to be pink?" Lily asked tactfully as she examined her spaghetti.
"And the pasta is rock solid." Eric added.
"Mine has congealed into jelly," Blair wrinkled her nose in disgust and pushed her plate away.
"Ah hem," Bart cleared his throat. "I just remembered I'm running late for a meeting, Serena I'll make sure to have some later."
"Sure, sure," Serena said dryly as he left. "Well Chuck? Anything to add?"
He shook his head bemusedly, "There are no words..."
Lily attempted to swallow a forkful but her gag reflex kicked in and she had to spit it out again. "I can't, Serena I am sorry, but I just can't."
Serena sighed. "I already rang the pizza place. It should be here in ten."
"Oh thank God." Eric let his fork clatter down onto his plate.
"Seriously though, I don't know what went wrong. I've seen Dan and Rufus make this hundreds of times." Serena said in confusion. "I mean I followed the exact instructions..."
"S face it, regardless of a stupid project, you are Upper Class. That's what maids and cooks are for." Blair told her.
"I suppose. Hey, do you think it's cheating if I don't mention to Dan about what happened?" Serena asked.
"I can see this project is teaching you girls so much." Lily rolled her eyes before downing her glass of wine in one gulp.
~*~*~*~*~
"Blair," Chuck called, successfully avoiding Eric and following her down the hallway. "Wait up."
"What do you want Chuck?" Blair asked.
"To see you," His voice softened considerably. "I've barely spoken to you today."
"Well maybe you should have thought of that when you were busy in the park today with Nate instead of here with me trying to figure out a way around this project." She snapped. "I have to go to the bathroom."
"You must be hungry." He said, grabbing her arm as she turned away.
"Wait, what?"
"You didn't eat at dinner." He reminded her.
"I don't like pizza." She told him defensively. "It's not my fault Serena forgot to order salad."
He looked her in the eye. "As long as that's all it is, you know you're perfect just the way you are."
Blair flushed, "I really do have to go to the toilet." She told him sincerely.
"Okay." He let go of her. "But hurry we have to leave soon, Eric's on the phone with Johnathon but he won't be distracted forever."
"Where are we going?" She asked after she had returned.
"The one place no one else can see us," He smirked mysteriously. "I already called James to bring the limo around and he's picking up your favorite sushi dish on the way."
Blair let out a disbelieving laugh. "Are you kidding me? The limo?"
"Waldorf we need to survive the next few days somehow, and no one is keeping me away from you." He said impatiently. "Right now the limo is the only place that we can be alone. Now are you coming or not?"
"I hate you you know." She informed him as they silently crept away.
He studied her sparkling eyes and her glowing face. "No you don't."
The corners of her mouth turned upwards.
Day 2
"Oh Penelope," Hazel trilled, "My iced-tea is in need of replenishing."
"It's. Full." Penelope ground out.
Hazel tipped it over onto the steps until all of the liquid was drained out. "Oops, now it's not."
"A little to the left," Nelly Yuki instructed, positioning herself to better appreciate the foot massage that Iz was currently giving her.
"It's official, this school has gone crazy." Serena announced as she and Blair sat on the steps eating yogurt.
"I don't know, it's kind of amusing." Blair said thoughtfully.
"Hey Queen B!" Howard Zapata cried, "I feel like a back-rub. Care to oblige?"
Blair pointed to the small sign that was positioned close to where she was sitting.
Remember I can make your life hell for the next few months.
XOXO B-
Howard glared at her before taking out his phone and snapping a picture. Seconds later Blair felt her phone vibrate and two messages popped up.
Spotted: Queen B laying down the law. Pity she's not making the rules anymore...
Blair rolled her eyes before clicking the second message.
Nice try Miss Waldorf but if you don't comply to the rules I will be forced to fail you.
Blair hissed in fury before grabbing the remainder of her lunch and picking up her sign before walking away.
"Hey where are you going?" Howard called after her.
"To find Chuck." Blair spat. "I forgot he asked me to eat lunch with him, and I can't disobey a direct order now can I?"
"......"
"You realize that you just admitted that Chuck has some level of control over you?" Serena asked, hurrying after her.
"Yes I was aware." Blair gritted her teeth. "Aren't you supposed to be meeting Humphrey for lunch?"
"Leaving now."
~*~*~*~*~
"Move over Archibald." Blair demanded, pushing Nate out of the way and settling down beside her boyfriend. She wrinkled her nose when she realized that said boyfriend was smoking and quickly snatched the cigarette out of his fingers and threw it to the ground before firmly quenching it with her heels.
Chuck glowered. "Hi sweetie how was your day," He said sarcastically.
Nate stifled a snicker.
Blair shot them both glares. "How long until this stupid project ends?"
"I see your sign didn't work then." Nate nodded.
"Who the hell does Zapata think he is!?" She exploded. "Has he forgotten that I can destroy him so quickly that his stupid empty head would spin?"
"What did he do?" Chuck smirked. "Ask you to tell him what day it was?"
"No, and besides, what he did is not the point." She said firmly. "The point is that from this point forward you two are going to pretend that you are asking me to do stuff for you, without actually making me do it. Understand?"
"Yes." Both men agreed dutifully.
"Good, now one of you go and get me a low fat frappuccino with two sugars and maybe one of those pastry things to go with it."
Day 3
"Miss Waldorf you know why you and Mr Bass are here so lets not play games shall we?" Headmistress Queller said warily.
"Oh?" Blair frowned and crossed her ankles innocently. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."
Chuck had to retrain himself from snorting. The girl was caught with her legs wrapped around his waist, pressed against the wall of the Janitor's closet with her hair in disarray and her skirt hiked up, and she still wanted to play dumb?
"Miss Waldorf we have photos," Headmistress Queller reminded her in a pained voice. "Many, many, many photos. Please do not make me get them out."
Miss Reilly looked like the cat who got the cream.
Blair's lips pursed and he could tell that her scheming mind was working overtime to try and come up with a believable excuse.
"I can see how it might look to a bystander," She admitted, "But Headmistress Queller I can assure you that what Charles and I were doing was completely innocent! I would never."
This time he did snort, Blair shot him a look of pure fury as he attempted to pass it off as a violent sneeze.
Headmistress Queller looked bemused. "Of course," She said delicately, "If we were to find, say, a student or two? Perhaps someone who could corroborate your story?" She nodded meaningfully as Miss Reilly let our a cry of indignation.
A slow smirk that was evil enough to rival his own, spread on the love of his life's face. "Certainly."
"Headmistress Queller, really I don't see how that could possibly help." Miss Reilly said quickly. "They were caught red handed."
Headmistress Queller gave the two seniors a small smile before walking with Miss Reilly to the far side of the room and hissing in her ear.
"Jane, dear, you're new here so perhaps I should explain. Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass are two of the most powerful and influential students at this school. Now I admit that this does not shine on them in the best light," Miss Reilly rolled her eyes, "But trust me when I say that I have gone up against them and their parents in the past and it was not the best experience I have ever had." Headmistress Queller finished just as there was a knock on the office door.
"You asked to see us, Blai- I mean Headmistress Queller?" Iz corrected quickly as Hazel elbowed her in the stomach.
"Yes, please sit down." She indicated the small sofa next to where Blair and Chuck were sitting and began to question them of their whereabouts that lunchtime.
Now that the attention was off them, Chuck's hand slowly made it's way on to Blair's knee and she patted it absently as she listened in to make sure that her minions got their stories straight. He felt Miss Reilly's eyes boring a hole in the side of his head and he had to resist the urge to smirk as he purposely let his hand wander south further up Blair's leg.
Miss Reilly let out a gasp and he quickly removed his hand and resumed his innocent expression, trying not to wince as his girlfriends nails made themselves at home on the flesh of his forearm. It was almost worth it to see the look on that prissy teacher's face. Blair dug harder. Almost.
Day 4
"Tell me, Mr. Bass, what qualities do you have that Yale would most benefit from?" Dean Barroby asked as he studied the relaxed and confident young man sitting in front of him.
"You said it yourself a few seconds ago; I am Chuck Bass." Chuck smirked. "I have wealth, power, and unlimited resources. I think that my father's and my contributions would greatly help this fine establishment."
"I see, and your friends?"
"As you will most likely already know, Blair Waldorf is refined, elegant. She has class, dignity and poise, not to mention her dedication and efficiently to a worthy cause. To her, education is more then worthy." He assured him.
"Serena Van der Woodson, while not exceptionally brilliant in any academic sense, has a lightness and an easy going nature that could make anyone smile. She's a prominent socialite and has many contacts in the fashion and sorority world. Not to mention the publicity that she would bring to your college."
"And..." The Dean checked his list, "Nathaniel Archibald?"
"A good all rounder, has an interest in sports, and comes from the prestigious Vanderbilt line. He's polite and well mannered, very loyal to his friends and family." Chuck told him.
The Dean nodded, "Well all four transcripts look very impressive, it appears yourself and Miss Van der Woodson took the SATs twice? With yourself scoring higher the second time around and your step-sister scoring lower?"
"Yes well, I don't know about Serena, but the SATs came at a difficult time for me, having recently moved into a new family orientated environment, I decided to go back that and make sure I reached my full potential." Chuck said. That, and the fact that a monkey could have done better then the jerk that he had paid to take them for him the first time. He thought with a scowl.
"Mr Bass, you seem to me to be associating yourself and your friends as a package deal, but I am curious," He closed the folders and leaned forward. "Say I was in the mood for fish, with no added extras or trimmings. What would that be worth?"
Chuck chose his words carefully, "A good fish is worth nothing, unless it is presented with elegance and grace, and is enhanced only by laughter and polite conversation."
The Dean smiled, "Obviously you are a very smart young man, I can see great value in giving you a place at Yale. I'll have to take it up with the board, but I'm pretty sure I can guarantee a place for at least one of your friends."
He hesitated, "There is one minor hitch though, Miss Waldorf, although seeming very committed to Yale at first, later rang me to offer up her place to a... Mr Humphrey? Do you know why?"
"Excuse me?" Chuck asked disbelievingly, "Blair would never."
"Well I can assure you that she did, I answered the call myself."
"I am not aware of any such incident," Chuck said finally, "But I can assure you that Blair Waldorf has the utmost dedication to Yale. More so then anyone I've ever met."
"Well I will certainly be in touch."
~*~*~*~*~
"So B, where's Chuck today?" Penelope asked slyly, as she grudgingly opened Hazel's yogurt for her.
"He had a meeting," Blair said, licking her spoon. "I'm meeting him for dinner later tonight."
"No bodyguard today Queen B?" Howard Zapata and his fellow cronies towered over them blocking out their light. "Pity."
"I don't need a bodyguard." Blair told him sweetly. "And what makes you think that I don't have one?"
"Bass hasn't been in any of his classes all day and we just saw Archibald walking Jenny Humphrey to the subway station." Shit.
"What do you want Zapata?" Blair asked.
"A drink." He said, sitting down and making himself comfortable. "Water will do, it's getting a little hot out here."
Blair sighed but got to her feet and did as was told, much to the shock of everyone, including Howard. "Uh... Good girl!"
Blair came back and stood over him with a small smile on her dainty blood-red lips. "Well let me cool you down then." She smiled wider before tipping the ice cold water down on top of his head and making sure that it ran all the way down his shirt. "Anything else?" She asked sweetly.
~*~*~*~*~
"I don't get it." Dan sighed frustratedly as he and Serena watched the scene unfurl. "How is it that Blair Waldorf can have the status of a lowly church mouse and still manage to get away with stuff like that, whereas I have been running errands for those jerks all week."
"Well Blair's a bitch." Serena said plainly, not at all surprised. "They know what she can and can't do. Also it helps that she has two guys that would do anything to help her if things got out of hand. Three, if you count Eric."
"I just don't understand how people like you Nate and Eric can be friends with people like Blair and Chuck." Dan shook his head.
"Dan, you don't know them." Serena told him firmly. "All you see is what they show everyone else. You've seen it for yourself, Blair can be a human being sometimes. And even you have to agree that so far Blair and Chuck happy and together is better then Blair and Chuck miserable and apart."
"I guess." Dan frowned as his phone bleeped and he got a message.
We have 2 talk. Meet me at the Palace Bar at 6:20pm. Don't B late and DONT tell Serena – CB
"Who was that?" Serena asked, attempting to peer over his shoulder.
"No one." Dan told her quickly. "But hey listen I'd better go if I want to talk to Mr Johnston before class. See you later?"
"Yeah, sure." Serena said confusedly as her boyfriend hurried off.
~*~*~*~*~
"You asked to see me?" Dan frowned as he approached the lone figure at the bar. "Wait, no, that sounds like something out of a mafia movie and we both know I'm not scared of you so -"
"Stop talking," Chuck said stonily, swiveling around in his chair and giving him a withering glare. "And sit down. This won't take long."
"Okay." Dan said. "So what's this all about."
"You tell me." Chuck turned to face him. "Why don't you tell me why when I was speaking to Dean Barroby earlier, he told me that Blair had given up her place at Yale and recommended that you take it instead?"
"Oh, well that's kind of a long story-"
"You have thirty seconds."
"Of course I do." Dan sighed. "Well you know that story I wrote about you, the one about Charlie Trout. Blair heard about it and came to make sure that it never got printed. She traded her guaranteed place at Yale-"
"For the story and all rights to it." Chuck finished for him. "Why?"
"I think you know why. She loves you, God knows for what reason, she didn't want you to get hurt like that. And she wasn't really taking much of a risk anyway," Dan said thoughtfully, "With her grades and her parents money she was always going to get in anyway."
"Money isn't everything." Chuck said quietly. "You're done."
"What- What do you mean?"
"You are done messing about in my life." Chuck told him, keeping his voice at a hushed tone. "I let you mess with my sister, my best friend, my relationships, and even my father. But not Blair. Never Blair. From now on you stay away from me, and if you know what's good for you, Blair."
"Chuck we're bound to see each other, much as I wish it wasn't, it's inevitable. I'm dating your step-sister."
"For now. We both know that you two won't last." Chuck downed the rest of his scotch and stood up. "Just watch your back Humphrey. I'm getting bored of having to mess with Brooklyn nobodies."
~*~*~*~*~
"You know that you are very nearly close to being late." Blair's annoyed voice called from where she was standing at the top of the stairs of the newly refurbished Waldorf penthouse.
"You look beautiful." Chuck told her sincerely, taking her hands in his as she reached the bottom.
"What's gotten into you?" Blair asked with a coy smile on her face. "You're being nice. It's weird."
"Nothing," He smiled, an actual smile instead of a smirk. "Come on, the limo is waiting."
"Has anyone ever told you you're bipolar?" Blair laughed. "I talked to you on the phone like an hour ago and you were in a pissy mood."
He laughed with her, "I do love you, you know." He said almost to himself.
Blair beamed but kept her cool. "Well I kind of figured." She teased. "And you already know that I love you so don't even start with the faux hurt."
"I wasn't planning on it. Now are you going to come with me or not? Because I could always find someone else to pursue certain activities with me in the limo on the way..." He winked.
Blair gasped and slapped him gently on the arm. "Definitely bipolar." She muttered.